Sierra Silver Mine Tour


Useful Information

Location: Wallace, 420 5th St (47°29'6" N, 115°55'2" W)
Open: MAY daily 10-14.
JUN to AUG daily 10-16.
SEP daily 10-14.
Tours every 30 min.
[2008]
Fee: Adults USD 10.50, Children (0-16) USD 8, Seniors (60+) USD 9.50.
[2008]
Classification: MineSilver Mine
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=10 °C.
Guided tours: D=75 min., L=330 m, V=10,000/a[2007].
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Sierra Silver Mine Tour, 420 5th St., Wallace, ID 83873, Tel: +1-208-752-5151. E-mail: contact
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

~1900 silver discovered.
1960s exploration failed.
1982 Sierra Silver Mine Tour, Inc. founded and mine developed.

Description

Sierra Silver Mine Tour is located in the Coeur d'Alene district, a mining area with a 120-year history of mining. Sierra Mine's ore bodies were never rich enough to warrant active mining, so ownership of the mine changed several times. There were various attempts to mine silver, the most thorough exploration took place in the 1960s. The results were disappointing and so the mine was closed again. Later it was used to teach local high school students mining skills. As a result the tour is not explaining the whereabouts of this special mine, but the history and mining techniques of the area.